Scamsters preying on Notre-Dame re-construction effort, warns French Heritage Foundation

devastating fire that broke out in tre Dame on Monday has opened gates for fraudsters to fool dors into handing over cash and taking vant of tragic incident, as per foreign media reports.

It has been reported that scamsters have alrey unleashed ir plots, falsely claiming y are helping to rebuild centuries-old cadral.

French Herit Foundation warned saying any phone calls or emails appealing to donate funds under pretext of medieval-era monument were fake. foundation has so far collected more than 13 million euros ($14.5 million) from individual dors to help restore Gothic landmark.

"A number of scams have been flagged to us both in France and abro," foundation said Wednesday, insisting it issues appeals by phone, mail or email for donations.

 foundation furr tified that y are accepting donations through its website, Facebook p, PayPal, a Paris metro station and by SMS for those belonging from France and any or initiative apart from se are a means of fraudulence.

"All of se initiatives are fraudulent," foundation declared.

Edouard Philippe, Prime Minister of France, took to Twitter and declared that those who are donating for monument’s reconstruction will avail income tax benefits.

(We opted for an incentive system that will appeal to greatest number: French who will make a donation for reconstruction of #treDame will benefit from a reduction of ir income tax, from 75% up to 1000 euros and 66% beyond 1000 euros.)

France's Culture Minister Franck Riester on Tuesday warned people to be on guard from websites claiming to support reconstruction of tre-Dame.

RE | $1 Billion Raised To Rebuild Paris' tre Dame After Fire

President of France, Emmanuel Macron, h praised cour and professionalism of firefighters on Tuesday; promising Parisians that y will "rebuild this cadral toger." He h also anunced an international fundraising campaign to raise money for repairs.

Built in 13th century, medieval structure is considered a feat of architecture as much as a religious symbol. It is one of Paris' most popular attractions, drawing an estimated 13 million visitors a year.

(With PTI inputs)